Yoga for Teens

Teenagers have many challenges from studying to hormonal issues. Yoga can help to enhance their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves.

Demand for yoga classes from teenagers is accelerating as more and more young people view yoga as the on-ramp to a healthier lifestyle. Contemporary teenagers are the most health-conscious generation ever. It may seem contradictory, given the crisis of obesity and deteriorating fitness of our nation's kids. Nonetheless, according to Teenage Research Unlimited, "work out" is the first thing teenage girls say they choose to do in their spare time, and yoga is the fastest growing fitness activity, according to IDEA, the national trade association of fitness professionals.

Staying healthy means a lot more to teens today than avoiding a cold. Boys and girls both are concerned about eating well, getting more exercise, staying in shape and managing stress. But teenagers also say they are looking for something to help them make sense of a chaotic world. They find yoga's inner focus a spiritual experience, even if they are not yet prepared to embark on a more mature spiritual practice. They also are looking for tools to help them manage stress. Like adults, contemporary teenagers are goal and achievement oriented, operating under relentless academic pressure and a treacherous adolescent social jungle.

Teenagers admit that while it is fitness that draws them to yoga, it is the deeper aspect of the practice that keeps them coming back to their mats.

Some of the benefits of yoga for teens include: